First, any player taking part must be registered with the Quebec hockey federation. Also, any communications with any international hockey federations must go through Hockey Canada.

"This is a team representing one of our provinces ," he said. "We just have to make sure that any of those (players) are registered with the provincial federation in Quebec."

Smith would not comment when asked if he's worried the tournament might become a political hot potato.

"My preference is to comment on the hockey side of it," he said.

Others see great significance in the move.

Sports columnist Rejean Tremblay of Montreal La Presse says people in Quebec have wondered for decades how their own would fare against the best in the world.

He suggested a number of possible players, like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin Brodeur, and potential coaches like Guy Carbonneau or Patrick Roy. He mentioned Maxim Lapierre, a Montreal Canadiens third- and fourth-liner, but omitted to mention Olympic starting goalie Roberto Luongo.

When contacted by The Canadian Press on Friday, Carbonneau said he liked the idea. But he did not offer any other comments.

Hockey Quebec's Lalonde said he would seek federal and provincial funding the same way figure-skating and speed-skating tournaments do.

In Ottawa, however, the Heritage department issued a one-line statement: "Sport Canada does not contribute to this hockey tournament."

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